Circulating dephlegmator



D. PYZEL C IRGULAT I NG DEPHLEGMATOB July 31, 192s. 1,678,823

Filed Nov. 6, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dqn/e/ @zal A TTORNE Y.

July 31, 1928.

D'. PYzEL CIRCULATING DEPHLEGMATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. qn/e/ /yze/ A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 3l, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL IYZEL, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO SIMPLEX REFINING COM- PANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CIRCULATING DEIHLEGMATOR.

Application iiled November 6, 1919. Serial No. 386,158.

My invention relates to the art of fractional distillation or rectification of petroleum vapors to obtain products having oertain boiling limits, but is also applicable to the fractional distillation or rectication of other mixtures of liquids of different boiling points.

It is a well known fact that crude petroleum may be distilled to produce gasoline, engine distillate or naphtha, kerosene and several other Well recognized commercial products.

My invention is especially designed to facilitate the separation of these products from vapors in which they are carried, by means of fractional condensation. It depends upon the number of condensates desired, whether one single fractionating unit or a series of such units are used, but in the annexed drawing I have shown an apparatus by which three different products may be obtained.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter. Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only and show a system consisting of three ractionating units:

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing three dephlegmators with their associated piping.

Fig. 2 is a section through oneform o dephlegmator.

Fig. 3 is a section on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. r

The form of dephlegmator shown which is well known in the art, forms no part of the present invention and consists of a shell 11 having a tight top 12 and a tight..

bottom 13.

Vapor is introduced into the shell 11 through a vapor inlet 14 and is withdrawn through a vapor outlet 15. Inside the shell 11 are a series of outer pans 16 and inner pans 17, the vapor passing through an opening in the middle of each of the pans 16 and around the outer edges of the pans 17 A series of small holes 18 are drilled around the opening in the pan 16 and a similar series of holes 19 is drilled around the outer edge of the pan 17. A liquid inlet pipe 20 passes through the top 12 delivering liquid into a distributing pan 21. .b The various pans are held together by means of bolts and spacers 22.

A number of these dephlcgmators are arranged in series as shown in Fig. 1 a separate cut .or commercial product being obtained from each. Vapor is admitted to the first of the dephlegmators by a pipe 30 being carried from the first to the second through a pipe 31, from the second to the third through a pipe 32 Athe uncondensed vapor being finally delivered through the pipe 33 to a condenser 100 which may be of any conventional and well known form. In the passage through the dephlegmators the vapor takes a tortuous course, passing around the pans 17 and through the pans 16. The vapors condense and collect in the pans and run down through the holes 18 and 19 to outlet pipes 34 each located in the bottom of one of the dephlegmators. These outlet pipes 34 are connected to outlet pipes 35, 36 and 37 which in turn can each be connected to any of the headers 38, 39 and 40 by-.a'proper manipulation of the valves shown in' the diagram. The liquid delivered to the pipesv 34 can also be drawn away partly or totally as a commercial product through pipes 41 by a suitable manipulation of the valves f therein. Each of the headers 38, 39 and 40 deliver the oil to a cooler 42 which consists of a shell having any sort'of cooling surfaces therein, various types of coolers orl condensers being available for this purpose. Cooled oil from each ofthese coolers 42 ma .be delivered to the suction of a centrifugal or other suitable pump 45. By proper manipulation of the valves shown in the dia ram*- these pumps may also be supplied Wit ""oil from any outside source through the pipes 44. The pumps 45 are each provided with a valved by-pass 46 to regulate the amount of Huid delivered therefrom. The pressure side of each of the pumps is connected by means of the pressure pipes 50, 51 and 52 to the pipe 20 in the top of one of the dephlegmators. I

. In starting, the cooler and pump may be charged with cold oil from an outside source through the pipes 44, or this oil may be collected by condensing the oil in any of the dephlegmators, and delivering -the conden-` sate to the cooler and the pump through one of the pipes 34 and through one of the pipes 35 36 and 37. p

In either case the oil is drawn by the pump 4:5` from the cooler and delivered to the top of the dephlegmator, in which 1t is allowed to iiow downwardly being brought into intimate contact with the hot vapors ascending therethrough. In the form of dephlegmator shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the oil flows from pan to pan through the perforations 18 and 19, in this way forming a sort of curtain through which the ascending hot vapors pass. cooled by Contact with the cold oil, and a portion of these vapors is condensed. This portion consists chieiiy of the higher boiling point fractions of the vapors. The condensate mixes with the oil pumped into the top of the dephlegmator and'in its downward flow in counter current with the hot vapors, this mixture is further freed from low boiling point fractions, a corresponding quantity of high boiling point :fractions being condensed and flowing down with it. The'quantity of oil flowing out at the bottom of the dephlegmator is larger than the quantity of oil pumped into its top, in consequence of the admixture of the condensate formed in it.l The pump is kept running at la constant rate of deliver and the excess The hot vapors arev and 'accurately regulated as required by varying the temperature to which the circulating oil is cooled in the cooler 42, or by varying, b means of the by-pass 46, the quantity o oil delivered by the pump to the to of the dephlegmator, or by both metho s combined.

Itis possible by a suitable manipulation of the valves to either operate one of the dephlegmators as a unit circulating its own condensates therethrough, or to circulate the condensate produced in any dephlegmator through either of the other dephlegmators.

I claim as my invention l. In an oil refining system, the combination of: a series of dephlegmators; means for passing oil vapors successively throu h said dephlegmators; means in said ephlegmators for bringing said vapors into intimate contact with a flowing stream of condensate; means for withdrawing said condensate from one of said dephlegmators; and means for introducing said condensate into the top of another dephlegmator.

2. In an oil vreining system, the combination of: aseries of dephlegmators; means for passing oil vapors successively throuoh said dephlegmators; means in said ephlcgmators for bringing said vapors. into intimate contact with a iowing stream bf condensate; means for withdrawing said condensate from one of said dephlegmators; means for cooling said condensate; and means for introducing said condensate into the top of another dephlegmator.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 30th day of October, 1919.`

DANIEL PYZEL. 

